What's new

Off road 4x4

Dr. Jones

In pursuit of #9
Contributor
Anyone have any thoughts as to the best vehicle I should look at? My requirements;

- must seat 6
- must pull a trailer and Polaris Crew
- must be able to get in and get out (tough truck)
- zero care as to appearance .. Will be roughing it up for sure.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wda0aoX2vcU


One of the pricier ones, but also one of the best off road-capable vehicles on the market right now, coupled with comfortabilty, and reliability. A Wrangler Rubicon won't seat six, and Range Rovers or Ford trucks won't be as reliable.
 
I have a nissan xterra with the offroad package. I has a rear locker, rooftop offroad headlights, a little extra ground clearance, bilstein high performance shocks, and a metal plate running along everthing underneath the vehicle for protection. I like it alot and has alot of versitility for packing stuff into. (lots of removeable hooks, and a couple of hooks that slide along a grove for more versatility)
I go fishing in some pretty remote hard to get to areas (i like high mountain rivers the best) and never have any problems with it.

When i was looking for what to buy it was between the new toyota FJ, jeep rubicon, and xterra. I researched all 3 alot and liked the xterra best.
 
As the local redneck, let me give you some advice.

If you don't want a pickup (truck does not equal pickup btw), then if you're looking at anything else other than a Jeep Wrangler, you're doing it wrong. I know you got money P, so don't worry about how much it costs. Not a big fan of the other Jeep models, but the Wranglers are quite amazing.

If you want a pickup, do yourself a favor and don't get anything foreign. They're just not made as well, they're ok highway pickups, but they aren't worth a crap for any dirt/gravel roads. I prefer a Chevy Duramax, they're just great pickups plus the Allison transmission is fantastic. Dodge is ok, but the bodies will fall apart pretty quickly, they have good engines but the rest of the truck is made cheaply. Ford is alright too, just not my favorite.

Back to the Jeep...get both a hard top and a soft top, use them based on the weather. Put a little 3" lift on it...now normally I hate lifts, in fact, I despise them on pickups. Wranglers just look good with them though. IDK what you mean by off roading, but I'm assuming you're just going to go on some little gravel or dirt road and not actually climb anything because you're an old man, but I would consider putting some 35" tires on...just cause. Now then...you said you want to sit 6...that's too many for one off-roading vehicle. Unless if you're getting something with a bench seat in the front, or a lengthy vehicle with two rows of seat (not counting driver and front passenger), the it ain't gonna happen, just not realistic. Anyways, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara or Rubicon....get it.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wda0aoX2vcU


One of the pricier ones, but also one of the best off road-capable vehicles on the market right now, coupled with comfortabilty, and reliability. A Wrangler Rubicon won't seat six, and Range Rovers or Ford trucks won't be as reliable.



That's a vehicle for off-roading wannabe's.
 
Get a 3/4 ton and jack it up so you don't get stuck in the snow. I grew up in Jeeps and Blazers and love them but they just don't cut it when weight is necessary.
 
As the local redneck, let me give you some advice.

If you don't want a pickup (truck does not equal pickup btw), then if you're looking at anything else other than a Jeep Wrangler, you're doing it wrong. I know you got money P, so don't worry about how much it costs. Not a big fan of the other Jeep models, but the Wranglers are quite amazing.

If you want a pickup, do yourself a favor and don't get anything foreign. They're just not made as well, they're ok highway pickups, but they aren't worth a crap for any dirt/gravel roads. I prefer a Chevy Duramax, they're just great pickups plus the Allison transmission is fantastic. Dodge is ok, but the bodies will fall apart pretty quickly, they have good engines but the rest of the truck is made cheaply. Ford is alright too, just not my favorite.

Back to the Jeep...get both a hard top and a soft top, use them based on the weather. Put a little 3" lift on it...now normally I hate lifts, in fact, I despise them on pickups. Wranglers just look good with them though. IDK what you mean by off roading, but I'm assuming you're just going to go on some little gravel or dirt road and not actually climb anything because you're an old man, but I would consider putting some 35" tires on...just cause. Now then...you said you want to sit 6...that's too many for one off-roading vehicle. Unless if you're getting something with a bench seat in the front, or a lengthy vehicle with two rows of seat (not counting driver and front passenger), the it ain't gonna happen, just not realistic. Anyways, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara or Rubicon....get it.

Good stuff. Thanks H.
 
Get a 3/4 ton and jack it up so you don't get stuck in the snow. I grew up in Jeeps and Blazers and love them but they just don't cut it when weight is necessary.

Franklin is right...Jeeps are more warm weather vehicles, not the best in snowy conditions.

I disagree on the lift on the truck though, maybe a spacing kit (1-2" lift), but the actual lift doesn't do a lot because your differentials will still be in the same place. Your truck will look taller, but you still can't climb over too much more than you could before. I always laugh when I see some idiot with a huge lifted truck knock off his oil pan because he thinks he can climb things just cause he has 6" of space...that don't mean nothing.
 
As the local redneck, let me give you some advice.

If you don't want a pickup (truck does not equal pickup btw), then if you're looking at anything else other than a Jeep Wrangler, you're doing it wrong. I know you got money P, so don't worry about how much it costs. Not a big fan of the other Jeep models, but the Wranglers are quite amazing.

If you want a pickup, do yourself a favor and don't get anything foreign. They're just not made as well, they're ok highway pickups, but they aren't worth a crap for any dirt/gravel roads. I prefer a Chevy Duramax, they're just great pickups plus the Allison transmission is fantastic. Dodge is ok, but the bodies will fall apart pretty quickly, they have good engines but the rest of the truck is made cheaply. Ford is alright too, just not my favorite.

Back to the Jeep...get both a hard top and a soft top, use them based on the weather. Put a little 3" lift on it...now normally I hate lifts, in fact, I despise them on pickups. Wranglers just look good with them though. IDK what you mean by off roading, but I'm assuming you're just going to go on some little gravel or dirt road and not actually climb anything because you're an old man, but I would consider putting some 35" tires on...just cause. Now then...you said you want to sit 6...that's too many for one off-roading vehicle. Unless if you're getting something with a bench seat in the front, or a lengthy vehicle with two rows of seat (not counting driver and front passenger), the it ain't gonna happen, just not realistic. Anyways, Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara or Rubicon....get it.



Two things:

A) Most of the cars you mentioned don't seat six. Otherwise, the Rubicon would be more than good enough
B) a Toyota 4Runner is like one of the most indestructible cars of all-time. Bar-none
 
Franklin is right...Jeeps are more warm weather vehicles, not the best in snowy conditions.

I disagree on the lift on the truck though, maybe a spacing kit (1-2" lift), but the actual lift doesn't do a lot because your differentials will still be in the same place. Your truck will look taller, but you still can't climb over too much more than you could before. I always laugh when I see some idiot with a huge lifted truck knock off his oil pan because he thinks he can climb things just cause he has 6" of space...that don't mean nothing.

Obviously you don't go overboard & get taller tires that add more clearance. Lifts also help out with bolders and things on the sides--it's not all about the center. Play in the wheels is important if you don't want to bend the hell out of everything.

Doing this is flat out ugly to go along with the uselessness of the lift:

mytruck3.jpg
 
I thought about the 4-door .. but I wasn't sure about the turning radius and the wider axle (clearance). Also, I don't want to spend too much because I'm going to beat the living **** out of it.

also looking at this:
2Q_800.jpg
 
I thought about the 4-door .. but I wasn't sure about the turning radius and the wider axle (clearance). Also, I don't want to spend too much because I'm going to beat the living **** out of it.

also looking at this:
2Q_800.jpg

I approve heartily.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wda0aoX2vcU


One of the pricier ones, but also one of the best off road-capable vehicles on the market right now, coupled with comfortabilty, and reliability. A Wrangler Rubicon won't seat six, and Range Rovers or Ford trucks won't be as reliable.


I respect the hell out of you, Dal, but this is exactly what I would expect out of a teenage skinny jean hipster.
 
Back
Top